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Transcode files

Transcode files

The easiest way to transcode media files in Compressor is to use or one or more built-in settings or a built-in destination (settings that are combined with a post-transcoding job action, such as uploading to Facebook or burning a Blu-ray disc).

Set up the first transcoding job in a batch

Click the Add File button in the batch area.

In the file window that appears, select a media file, then click Add.

In the Settings window that appears, do the following:

Select one or more transcode settings or a destination from the list.

The settings list contains basic settings, as well as destinations, grouped by category. To choose a specific setting, click the disclosure triangle beside a destination or a setting group (Podcasting, for example), then select one or more settings.

Important: For destinations, always select the destination name. If you select a setting that’s in the destination, the destination’s job action will not be used when processing the job.

The new job is displayed in the batch area. The job includes a thumbnail of the source file and the transcoding output instructions (setting, location, and filename). If you chose multiple settings, or a destination with multiple outputs, each output appears in a separate row. If you chose a destination, its job action appears in the upper-right corner of the job area.

The output instructions that you specified appear in the job. If you chose multiple settings or a destination with multiple outputs, each output appears in a separate row. If you chose a destination, its job action appears in the upper-right corner of the job area.

To change the name of a file to be output, double-click its name in the Filename column, then enter a new name.

The default name assigned to each transcoded file is the source filename appended with the extension of the format used during transcoding (.mov or .mp4, for example).

Note: If you see an alert icon to the left of the filename, the filename assigned to that output row has already been used.

To view the properties of a setting, select an output row, then open the inspector by clicking the Inspector button in the upper-right corner of the Compressor window.

Depending on the setting you’re viewing, general, video, and audio properties are displayed in the inspector. For information about modifying these properties, see View and modify setting properties.

Add and remove job outputs

You can add additional transcoding instructions to a job by adding one or more output rows. You can also remove output rows.

Do one of the following:

Add an output row: Position the cursor over an output row in the job, click the Add button that appears at the end of the row, then, in the window that appears, select one or more settings, choose a location, and click OK.

Remove an output row: Position the cursor over the output row that you want to remove, then click the Remove button that appears at the end of the row.

Transcode a batch

After you’ve configured the jobs in your batch using the tasks above, you can transcode the batch.

Click the Start Batch button in the lower-right corner of the batch area and, if necessary, follow the instructions to complete the transcoding process.

The Compressor window switches to Active view, where you can monitor the transcoding process.